Society Rules Irish Shorthorn Society

Templemore Road,
Thurles
Co Tipperary
Phone: 050426806
Email: shorthornsoc@eircom.net
These Rules are copyright and the property of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Limited. They may not he used or amended by any Society, when adopted, without the consent in writing of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Limited.

I. INTERPRETATION

1. In construing these Rules, the following words and expressions shall have respectively, the meanings herein stated, provided that such meaning does not conflict with the subject matter of the Rule or the context.

(a) Words importing the singular or plural number include the plural and singular numbers.

(p) “Standing Orders” shall mean the Standing Orders (if any) adopted by the, Council for the purpose of regulating procedure at General Meetings and Council meetings.

(q) “Byelaw” shall mean a resolution to govern or facilitate the conduct of elections and the efficient and effective operation of the activities of the Society adopted, Rescinded or altered by a simple majority of the Council members present and voting at a Council meeting.

II. NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE AND OBJECTS

2. NAME: The name of the Society shall be: Irish Shorthorn Society Limited
3. REGISTERED OFFICE: The Registered office of the Society shall be; .. Templemore Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary but may be changed by the Council and any such change shall be notified to the Registrar in accordance with the provisions of the Acts.

4. OBJECTS: The objects of the Society shall be:

a) To compile, keep, maintain, edit, issue and publish a Herd Book of suitably qualified cattle.

b) To encourage, promote and improve the breeding of Shorthorn Cattle in Ireland.

c) To purchase, import, breed, hire or otherwise acquire and hold, re-sell, let out on hire or otherwise deal in SHORTHORN cattle or semen.

d) To compile or obtain by purchase or other means from the Department of Agriculture and Food and other persons or person, as may be thought fit, records and other statistics and information of or relating to any SHORTHORN cattle, or other cattle for progeny testing, performance testing or other purposes, and to sell, dispose of, publish, circulate to members or others and otherwise deal with or make use of any such records, statistics or information in any way which may be thought calculated to promote the objects of the Society.

e) To prepare and issue by way of sale or otherwise and on such terms or conditions as may be thought fit to members and others, certificates of entries-made in the Society’s Herd Book and also certificates of the Society of records of performance and other records and statistics relating to any SHORTHORN cattle or other cattle based on any records or statistics or other information obtained or compiled by the Society.

f) To promote, organise, manage and hold or participate in the promotion, organisation, management and holding of shows and auctions and-other sales of SHORTHORN cattle and other cattle, and to arrange or assist in the arrangement of classes of cattle at any such shows as aforesaid, and to provide, present, subscribe to or otherwise promote or aid and support the provision and augmentation of prizes to be awarded at any such show as aforesaid and to recommend and appoint suitable persons to act as judges thereat, and also to pay or make contributions towards the payment of expenses incurred by all or-any of the exhibitors in or about the exhibition of cattle at any such show as aforesaid which may be approved for this purpose by the Society and to organise raffles/competitions for the benefit of the Society.

f) To investigate, adjudicate upon, or otherwise determine or settle, cases of doubtful or suspected pedigrees of SHORTHORN or other cattle and other disputes or questions relating to or connected with SHORTHORN cattle or members of the Society.

h) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property and any rights or privileges which may be necessary or advisable for the promotion of the Society’s objects, and to construct, maintain and alter any buildings or erections necessary or advisable for the work of the Society.

i) To sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the Society as may be considered expedient with a view to the promotion of its objects.

j) To purchase and otherwise acquire and undertake all or any part of the business property contracts or liabilities of any company, society, partnership or other person carrying on any business whether in this or in any other jurisdiction, which the Society is authorised to carry on or of a character similar or ancillary thereto or connected therewith or possessed of any property suitable for any of the purposes of the Society and to conduct and carry on or liquidate and wind up any such business.

k) To establish, acquire or invest in any Society, Company (registered under the Companies Act), or other Body Corporate carrying on any activity or trading, where the establishment of, acquisition of, or investment in, would be conducive to the interests of the members.

l) To establish, regulate and discontinue agencies and to undertake and transact all kinds of agency business.

m) To make arrangements with persons engaged in any trade, business, or profession for the concession to members of the Society of any special rights, privileges and advantages, and in particular in regard to the supply of goods.

n) To give credit to such persons on such terms as may seem expedient and on such security as may be determined by the Council and in particular to customers and others having dealings with the Society.

o) To guarantee the payment or repayment of monies or the performance of any contract liability or obligation by any person, company, society, association or concern where the giving of such guarantee is in the opinion of the Council directly or indirectly conducive or incidental to the business or trade of the Society.

p) To enter into agreements with any person, company, Society, association or concern for the purchase or acquisition from such person, company, association or concern of any shares, stock, debentures, debenture stock, or other securities of any company or society upon such terms and conditions and whether absolutely or contingently as the Council may see fit provided that the shares, stock, debentures, debenture stock or securities so acquired or to be acquired are shares, stock, debentures, debenture stock or securities of a company or a society carrying on at the date of such agreement a business or businesses which the Society would be empowered to carry on.

q) To enter into agreements with any person, company, society, association or concern regulating the manner in which the Society shall or may vote in respect of any shares, stock, debentures, or debenture stock held by it in any society or in any company, association or concern.

r) To engage in currency exchange and interest rate transactions, including but not limited to dealings in foreign currency, spot and forward rate exchange contracts, futures, options, forward rate agreements, swaps, caps, floors, collars and other foreign exchange or interest rate hedging arrangements and such other instruments as are similar to, or derived from any of the foregoing whether for the purpose of making a profit or avoiding a loss or managing a currency or interest rate exposure or any other exposure or for any other purpose.

s) Generally to engage in any business or transaction which may seem to the Society directly or indirectly conducive to the interests or convenience of its members or in pursuance thereof, and to do all things which may be necessary or expedient from time to time for accomplishing the aforesaid objects or any of them.

III. MEMBERSHIP

5. Membership
The membership of the Society shall in the first instance be comprised of those who are members at the registration of these rules and of such persons, Societies and Companies as defined in Rule I or other bodies corporate incorporated under any other Act of the Oireachtas as are capable of being serviced by the Society, and as the Council in their absolute discretion may admit to membership, provided that each such person is at the time of admission the owner or breeder of an SHORTHORN animal in Ireland eligible for entry in the Irish SHORTHORN Herd Book or the nominees of such persons. Applicants for membership shall subscribe for one Ordinary Share.

No person, or body corporate, which in the opinion of the Council is either directly or indirectly involved in the carrying on of any business in competition with that in which the Society is engaged, shall be eligible to become or remain as a member of the Society. In the event that a member becomes ineligible to continue as a member under this provision a notice shall be sent to the member advising him/her of the position. The member shall have 21 days in which to comment to the Council on the proposal to terminate his/her membership. At the end of 21 days the Council shall determine whether or not it is still considered that the member is involved in a business in competition with that in which the Society is engaged. In the event that the Council at that stage decides by resolution that the member is so involved such membership is automatically thereby terminated and the amount paid up at credited on the share or shares which he owned in the Society less such sum as may be due by him to the Society shall be either tendered to the member, lodged to the credit of a deposit account in a Bank so that it may be available for the member at any time and no claim of any nature shall lie against the Council or against the Society by reason of the removal of the said member’s name from the Society’s share register or the cancellation of his share or shares in the Society. The decision of the Council in regard to whether or not the member’s activity is in competition with that of the Society shall be final.

Every Society, Company or other body corporate admitted to membership may be represented by one delegate at the General Meetings of this Society.

The Council shall require each applicant to pay an Entrance Fee, the amount of which shall be decided from time to time by the Council. The Entrance Fee shall be payable on admission to membership and the first 1 EURO of such fee shall be applied to the acquisition on one ordinary share of 1 EURO fully paid. The Entrance Fee shall also be deemed to cover the first year’s Annual Subscription.

Thereafter, members shall pay an Annual Subscription at a rate to be determined by the Council from time to time. Such subscription shall be payable on or before the first day of January of the calendar year to which it applies. The Council may at it’s discretion by way of a resolution passed by a majority of the Council present and voting waive the annual subscription requirement of a member where they believe that the particular circumstances of the individual warrant such a waiver.

The Council may agree, in its absolute discretion, to accept a lump-sum, known as the Life Composition Fee, in lieu of the annual subscription, the amount of such lump sum to be determined from time to time by the Council. The payment by a member and the acceptance by the Council of such lump-sum shall entitle the member to all the privileges of membership, without the need to make any further annual subscription payments, for so long as the person continues to hold one share and continues to register pedigree animals with the Society. This latter provision shall not apply to persons who are in this category of member at the date of passing this neat amendment.

The Council shall review on an annual basis, the Entrance Fee, the Annual Subscription and the Life Composition Fee. In the event of any alteration, the members shall he notified by the Secretary of such change and of the date or dates from which the new rates will apply.

The Council may, from time to time, appoint such persons as it thinks fit to be Honorary Members of the Society for life or for such shorter period as the Council shall decide. Such persons shall be appointed in recognition- of services rendered in pursuit of the objects for which the Society was established. There shall not be more than ten such Honorary Members at any one time. Such Honorary Members shall not be required to pay an Annual Subscription and shall be eligible to attend and speak at General Meetings of the Society and to exercise (unless otherwise determined by the Council), all of the privileges of ordinary members, provided that no Honorary Member shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the Society or he elected to the Council

If two or more persons are registered as joint shareholders of Shares the first-named person on the register of shareholders shall be the only person entitled to attend and vote at any meeting of the Society, provided, however, that such first-named person may serve notice in writing to the Secretary at least five days before the date of such meeting of the Society nominating one of the other persons named in the joint-holding to attend and vote at the meeting in his stead. Any of the joint holders shall have power to give a valid receipt for any interest or dividends payable thereon, and any such joint shareholder may be elected to the Council of the Society. Once one of the joint shareholders has been so elected and for so long as such joint shareholder continues to be a member of the Council the remaining joint shareholder(s) shall have no vote at any meeting of the Society nor shall such remaining joining shareholder(s) be entitled to be elected to the Council.

ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP

6. Every application for admission to membership of the Society shall be made by individuals in Form I in the Appendix and by bodies corporate in Form U in the Appendix or in forms respectively as near Forms I and II as the Council, in its absolute discretion, may from time to time approve. No application for membership shall be considered by the Council unless it has been duly completed and signed.

7. Applications for membership shall be considered and determined by the Council as soon as practicable after the same shall have been received. Notice of admission or otherwise shall be duly notified to the applicant after the Meeting at which the application is decided on. If the application is granted the name of the applicant shall be entered in the Register of Members. Where an application for membership is rejected, the Council shall not be required to give the applicant any reason for such rejection.

8. A person under the age of 18 but above the age of 16 may be a member of the Society and enjoy all the rights of a member (except as by the Acts provided) and may execute all instruments and give all acquittances necessary to be given under the Rules but shall not be a Member of the Council or hold office in the Society.

9. Where by reason of cancellation or otherwise, a person ceases to hold shares in the Society he shall ipso facto cease to be a member. A member may not otherwise withdraw shares from the Society.

10. The Society shall keep at the registered office of the Society a Register of Members, in which shall be entered the names and addresses of all members and the number of shares held by each and when any person ceases to be a member his name shall be removed from the Register. The Register shall be conclusive evidence as to the names of the persons who are members of the Society and the number of shares held by each.

Save as herein otherwise provided the Society shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of any share as the absolute owner thereof, and accordingly shall not, except as ordered by a Court of competent jurisdiction or as by statute required, be bound to recognise any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person.

11. If any member of the Society, other than an Honorary Member or a member who has paid the Life Composition Fee, fails to pay his annual Subscription for any year within three months of the same becoming due, he shall automatically (but without prejudice to any outstanding liabilities already incurred by him), cease to be a member of the Society and his name shall be removed from the register of members, but he shall be eligible for re-admission at the discretion of the Council upon payment of all arrears due from him white a member and of the amount of any subscriptions which would have been payable by him if he had continued a member of the Society up to the time of his re-admission.

12. Any member of the Society who shall desire to retire, shall give notice in writing of the fact to the Secretary and, thereupon, his name shall be removed from the register of members and he shall be deemed to have retired (but without prejudice to any outstanding liabilities already incurred by him).

13. If any member of the Society:

i) shall wilfully refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions of the Rules of the Society or of any Bye-laws, rules or regulations made there under and for the time being in force, or shall be adjudged bankrupt, or shall make any composition or arrangement with this creditors, or shall be convicted of an indictable offence; or

ii) shall, in the opinion of the Council, have falsified the birth of any animal, or falsified any records, or concealed any fact material to the breeding or interest of SHORTHORN cattle as a breed; or

iii) shall, in the opinion of the Council, have been guilty of any conduct unworthy of a member of the Society.

Then and in any such case, such member shall be liable to expulsion from the Society by a resolution of the Council provided:

a) that two-thirds of the members present and voting at a Council meeting vote for his expulsion;

b) that he shall have received, in writing, at least one week’s notice of any meeting of the Council at which such resolution isle be proposed together with particulars of the charge alleged against him; and

c) that he shall be permitted by the Council to attend such meeting and to address the Council or to submit a written memorandum to the Council in his defence before such resolution is voted upon.

If such resolution is not carried by the Council, the Council may thereupon and at the same meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, suspend such member from membership for such period as it may determine or censure such member or impose upon him not as a penalty but as liquidated damages such sum as the Council may decide.

14. If any member shall be expelled or suspended from membership of the Society, or censured or shall have had imposed upon him a sum by way of liquidated damages, under Rule 13, a written notice of such event shall forthwith he sent by the Society to such member by registered post, addressed to him at his last known place of business. A notice of the said event, with or without particulars of the alleged offence, and the name and address of the member concerned, may, at the discretion of the Council, be communicated to every member of the Society.

15. Any member who is expelled from the Society under the provisions of Rule 13, shall forthwith have his name removed from the register of members and shall forfeit all rights and privileges as a member of the society (but without prejudice to any outstanding liabilities already incurred by him). Where a member has been expelled under section (ii) of Rule 13, the Council shall take such action as they may think fit in relation to the registration or transfer of any animal bred, owned or in the possession of such person.

CANCELLATION OF MEMBERSHIP

16. The Council may at its option terminate the membership and cancel the share of the member and repay to the member the amount paid up on his share less such sum as may be due by him to the Society, if the member throughout the entire immediately preceding period of 2 years has, as determined by the Council in accordance with the procedure outlined in the second paragraph of Rule 5, either:

i) Ceased to register pedigree animals with the Society.

Or

(ii) Ceased to be an owner of a Pedigree SHORTHORN Animal

The payment shall be on the discretion of the Council who shall satisfy themselves that such repayment and would not jeopardise the financial stability of the Society, and shall be made at such time and in such instalments as the Board shall decide.

17. UNCLAIMED SHARES OF DECEASED MEMBERS
If (a) within six calendar months from the date upon which the Council shall have recorded in the Minute Book of the Society a resolution that the Council from its local knowledge is unanimously satisfied of the death of a member, whether such death has been formally proved or not, and (b) the Secretary has certified in writing to the Council either that no claim has been received by the Society either from the personal representatives of such member or any relative of such member for the transfer of the shares in the capital of the Society held by him; or that such claim having been made the shares have not been accepted by the party entitled thereto; it shall in such event he lawful for the Council to serve upon such persons as in the opinion of the Council are the personal representatives or the nearest of kin (if any) a notice in writing to the effect that unless such personal representative or next of kin apply within three calendar months from the date of such notice to the Society requesting transfer and accept such transfer the Council may cancel the said shares and transfer to the Profit and Loss account of the Society all monies paid or credited as paid thereto.

Upon expiry of the said period of three months without any claim having been received, or if a claim is made without the shares being accepted by the person appearing to the Council to be entitled thereto then and in such event it shall be lawful for the Council by resolution being passed to cancel the said shares and upon such resolution being passed the said shares shall be deemed for all purposes to have been cancelled and annulled and no claim shall lie against the Society by a person in respect thereof and all monies paid up or credited as paid up thereon shall be transferred to the Profit and Loss account of the Society.

V. CAPITAL

18. The share capital of the Society shall consist of Ordinary Shares of nominal value of 1 EURO each. Shares may be held by an individual or by a Society or by a Body Corporate and shall rank pari passu. No member may hold more than one ordinary 1 EURO share in the Society.

The liability of members shall be limited to their shares. No interest or dividend shall be paid on ordinary shares. Shares shall be neither withdrawable nor transferable. In the event that a, person’s membership ceases under the Rules, his share shall be extinguished and the amount standing to the credit of the share transferred to a reserve account.

19. The Society shall, subject to Rule 16 and this rule, have a first lien on the Share held by any member and may set off any sum credited thereon towards the payment of any debt due by the member to the Society; provided, however, that no right shall obtain on the part of any member to set off any payment made on foot of his shareholding against any debt due by him to the Society.

The Council may sell and transfer any Share standing in the name of a member who is indebted to the Society, provided a fortnight’s notice in writing has been given to the defaulting member requiring payment of the amount due and warning the member that if payment is not made within that time the Council will sell or transfer the shares and apply so much of the proceeds as may be necessary to the discharge of the debt due together with the necessary expenses incidental to this recovery. A member in arrears with the calls duly made on his shares shall forfeit all rights of membership, including attendance at meetings, during the period of his default.

All moneys payable by a member to the Society whether in respect of shares or otherwise, shall be debts due from such member to the Society and shall be recoverable as such.

20. If any member entitled to property in the Society in respect of stock, loans or deposits not exceeding in the whole at his death 3,809.21 EURO or such other maximum as may be fixed from time to time by law, dies intestate without having made any nomination thereof then subsisting, the Council may without letters of administration distribute the same among such persons as appear to them, on such evidence as they deem satisfactory to be entitled to receive the same. Where a member, who at the time of his/her death, is entitled to property in the Society in respect of stock, loans or deposits exceeding in the whole at his/her death 3,809.21 EURO or such other figure as may be fixed from time to time by law dies, the Council shall, on production of Probate of his/her will or Letters of Administration to his/her estate and such evidence of his/her death as they deem sufficient, after satisfying any nomination made by such member, either transfer his/her property in the Society to the person or persons entitled thereto under his/her will or on his/her intestacy, as the case may be, or tender to such person or persons any amount due by the Society in respect of stock, loans, or deposits.

If any member entitled to property in the Society in respect of stock, loans or deposits not exceeding in the whole at his death 3,809.21 EURO or such other figure as may be fixed from time to time by law for the provisions of the first paragraph of this rule, dies and has not made any nomination then subsisting, but has made a will the Council shall deal with his/her property in accordance with the provisions of the previous paragraph.

21. If a member or person claiming, through a member, becomes of unsound mind and no Committee of his estate or trustee of his property has been duly appointed, the Society acting through its Council may, when it is proved to the satisfaction of the Council of the Society that it is just and expedient so to do, pay the amount of the stock, loans and deposits belonging to such member to any person whom they shall judge proper to receive the same on his behalf whose receipt shall be a good discharge to the Society for any sum so paid.

22. If any member becomes bankrupt, his property in the Society shall be transferable or payable to his assignees in bankruptcy.

23. All payments or transfers made by the Council under the provisions of the Acts or these Rules with respect to payments or transfers to or on behalf of deceased or members of unsound mind to any person who at the time appears to the Council to be entitled thereunder shall be valid and effectual against any demand made upon the Council or the Society by any other person.

VI. NOMINATIONS

24. (a) A member of the Society not being under the age of 16 years may, by writing under • his hand delivered at or sent to the Registered Office of the Society during the lifetime of such member or made in a book kept thereat, nominate any person or persons to or among whom there shall be transferred at his decease such property in the Society as may be his at the time of his decease (whether in shares, loans, deposits or otherwise) or so much thereof as is specified in such nomination, if the nomination does not comprise the whole. If on the death of the nominator the amount of his property in the Society comprised in the nomination exceeds 7,618.43 EURO or such other maximum as may be fixed from time to time by law, the nomination shall be valid to the extent of the sum of 7,618.43 EURO or such other maximum as may be fixed from time to time by law but not further or otherwise.

Provided that a person so nominated shall not be an Officer or servant of the Society unless such Officer or servant is the husband, wife, father, mother, child, brother, sister, nephew or niece of the nominator.

(b) A nomination so made may be revoked or varied by a subsequent nomination signed and delivered or sent or made as aforesaid or by any similar document in the nature of a revocation or variation under the hand of the nominator so delivered sent or made as aforesaid, but shall not be revocable or variable by the will of the nominator or by any codicil thereto.

(c) The Society shall keep a book wherein the names of all persons so nominated and all revocations or variations (if any) of such nominations shall be recorded and the property comprised in any such nomination to an amount not exceeding 7,618.43 EURO or such other maximum as may be fixed from time to time by law, shall be payable or transferable to the nominee although the Rules of the Society declare the Shares not to be transferable.

(d) The marriage of a member of the Society shall operate as a revocation of any nomination made by him before such marriage, provided that, in the event of an Officer of the Society having transferred any property of a member to a nominee, in ignorance of a marriage contract subsequent to the date of the nomination, the receipt of the nominee shall he valid discharge to the Society, and the Society shall be under no liability to any other person claiming such property.

(e) On receiving satisfactory proof of the death of a nominator the Board shall, subject to the limitation on the amount in the Acts provided, either transfer the property comprised in the nomination in the manner directed by the nomination, or pay to every person entitled thereunder, the full value of the property given to him.

(f) Where a nominee who is nominated under the provisions of the Acts is under 16 years of age the Society may pay the sum nominated to either parent, or to a guardian of the nominee, or to any other person of full age who will undertake to hold the same on trust for the nominee or to apply the same for his benefit and whom the Society may think a fit and proper person for the purpose, and the receipt of such parent, guardian, or other person shall be a sufficient discharge to the Society for all monies so paid.

VII. LOANS AND BORROWING POWERS

25. The Council may raise or borrow such sum or sums of money as shall from time to time be considered necessary by the Council on such terms and conditions as the Council shall agree provided that the aggregate amount of all monies so raised or borrowed shall not at any time exceed such amount as may be fixed by resolution of a General Meeting of the Society from time to time.

The Council may secure the repayment of any such loans and the interest thereon by the issue of debentures, debenture stock, mortgage, charge, bonds, agreements, promissory notes or lien upon all or any of the property or assets of the Society both present and future.

In addition the Council may, in accordance with the power vested in it by Rule 4 (o), procure that the Society shall guarantee, support or by similar debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, charges, bonds, agreements, promissory notes, liens or by any indemnity secure the debts or obligations of any other Society, body corporate or person having dealings with or interests similar to the Society provided that the Council shall resolve that the giving of such guarantee or the provision of such security is directly or indirectly conducive or incidental to the business or trade of the Society.

The council in addition to such borrowings in relation to the business of the Society may front time to time borrow such further sums as it may deem necessary from time to time by means of Loan Stock from members, suppliers, other persons, Bankers and Bodies corporate. The method of borrowing and the terms and conditions attached to the Loan Stock shall be determined by the Council from time to time.

26. The Council may also receive money on deposit from members and others, in such sums, at such rates of interest and on such terms as regards withdrawal, to such aggregate amount as the Council may determine. Provided, however, that the total amount of such deposits shall not at any time exceed the amount of the share capital of the Society and provided further that the acceptance of each deposits shall be in accordance with Section 19 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893.

VIII. INTESTMENTS, LOANS TO MEMBERS

27. The Council shall have power to invest any money forming part of the capital funds of the Society:

a) In any security in which Trustees are for the time being authorised to invest.

b) In the Shares of or Loans to any other registered Society or Company, provided such Society or Company shall be one with limited liability.

c) In advances to members of the Society on such security of real or personal property as the Council may decide.

28. The Council may, subject to the Rules or Articles of Association of the body to which loans have been made or in which Capital has been otherwise invested, appoint one or more of their number and/or one or more members of the staff of the Society to vote on its behalf at Meetings and to sit on the Board of any Society or Company in which portion of the Society’s funds are invested.

IX. GENERAL MEETINGS

29. General Meetings of the Society shall be Ordinary or Special. An Ordinary General Meeting to be called the Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once in each financial year at such time and place as may be fixed by the Council from time to time.

30. Notice convening every Annual General Meeting shall state the time and place(s) thereof and shall be posted or sent to the registered addresses of the members not less than fourteen clear days before the date of such meeting. Alternatively the Council may publish such notice in such newspapers as they decide. The notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is received (which shall be deemed to be the day after which notice is posted or published) and of the day for which it is given. No Annual General Meeting shall be invalidated by the non- receipt of notice thereof by any member.

31. At every Annual General Meeting of the Society Standing Orders may be adopted and shall remain in force until the next ensuing Annual General Meeting of the Society. The following business shall be transacted at every Annual General Meeting of the Society.

a) The minutes of the immediately preceding Annual General Meeting and of every, if any, other unconfirmed general meeting held subsequent thereto during the period intervening between the two Annual General Meetings, shall be read by the Secretary, if present, or if the Secretary be absent by such other person as may be appointed by the presiding Chairman of the meeting and when the meeting confirms the minutes as read or as altered shall be signed by the presiding Chairman.

b) The transactions of the Society, its condition or state of ins affairs generally, or in any particular, shall be made the subject of a statement, either written for circulation amongst the members or otherwise, to the meeting by the Chairman, or if at the instance of the Council by the Secretary or other person appointed by it, and the meeting may take such action thereon as it may decide; provided that no resolution on such statement shall take precedence over the adoption of the audited financial statements.

c) The Financial Statements, as certified by the Society’s Auditor for the immediately preceding statutory financial year or period and for such other periods or years in respect of which any audit may have been completed and which has not already been submitted to a general meeting of the Society and adopted thereat, shall if correct, be adopted.

d) Elections to the Council.

e) An Auditor in accordance with law, the Regulations and Rules 65 and 66 shall be appointed to carry out the statutory audit of the Society’s accounts for the financial year then current and to do such other work as the Council may deem necessary. The Council shall have power to fill any vacancy occurring in the office of Auditor until the next Annual General Meeting.

f) Borrowing powers as provided for in Rule 25 shall be adopted, if required.

g) Any other business arising that may be deemed by the Meeting proper and expedient subject to Rules 63 and 76 provided the Secretary has received at least five days notice of it beforehand but the members of the Council present at the meeting may if they think fit waive this proviso and concede to the meeting such right of discussion and action in reference to any matter raised under this head at any Annual General Meeting as they may consider adequate.

32. A Special General Meeting may he convened by the Council at any time, on its own authority, or upon a requisition addressed to the Council, Chairman, or Secretary, signed by at least one quarter of the Society’s membership for the time being, if not more than one hundred, and by twenty-five if the total membership is one hundred or more and stating the purpose of such meeting, and on receipt of which requisition the meeting shall be called by the Secretary or other person appointed by the Council for the purpose.

If he shall fail, for three days, to convene a meeting after the receipt of such requisition, the signatories thereto may convene same at the expense of the Society, provided, however, that the Society shall not be liable for any legal costs incurred by the requisitionists in connection with any meeting proposed or held or otherwise.

33. Notice, stating the time, place and purpose of every Special General Meeting shall be posted or sent to each member, or published as provided for in Rule 30 not less than five clear days before the date of such meeting, except where, in eases of exceptional urgency, the Council shall resolve to convene a Special General Meeting on shorter notice, provided that in no ease shall the notice given he less than four clear days. The notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is received (which shall be deemed to be the day after which such notice is posted, sent or published) and of the day for which it is given.

No business shall be transacted at Special General Meetings save that for the purpose for which the meeting is convened and of which particulars shall have been given in the notice convening every such meeting.

Notice of a General Meeting shall he deemed to have been duly given, if left at or posted to the registered address or place of residence of members, or published as provided for in Rule 30 in due time before such meeting. No Special General Meeting shall be invalidated by the non-receipt of notice thereof by any member.

34. No business shall he transacted at any General Meeting unless at least ten (10) members are present when the meeting proceeds to business. If within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum of ten members is not present the meeting if it be or is to be considered an Ordinary General Meeting of the Society or if it is a Special General Meeting convened by the Council shall stand adjourned to that day week at the same time and place, but if it be convened by notice upon a requisition from members shall he absolutely dissolved. No meeting shall be rendered incapable of transacting business by want of a quorum after the chair been taken, provided that the meeting shall be adjourned should the attendance fall below five (5).

35. The presiding Chairman may with the consent of the meeting and shall if the meeting so directs adjourn any General Meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned General Meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Any General Meeting may be adjourned for any period not exceeding twenty-eight clear days. When an Annual General Meeting is adjourned for twenty-one days-or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of the original meeting. Save as aforesaid, it shall not necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned Annual General Meeting. Where a Special General Meeting is adjourned at least four clear days notice shall be given of the date and place fixed for the adjourned meeting.

36. The President shall preside as Chairman for every General Meeting of the Society. In his absence, the Vice-President shall be entitled to preside as Chairman at any General Meeting of the Society. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, the members present shall choose one of the members of the Council present to be the Chairman, or if no member of the Council shall be present and willing to take the chair, the members present shall choose one of their number to be the Chairman.

37. Subject to a ballot as herein provided every question at any General Meeting shall be decided by a show of hands when each member present shall have one vote only and a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has been carried or not carried, or carried or not carried by a particular majority, and an entry to that effect in the Minute Book of the Society shall be conclusive evidence of the facts without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.

Any five members present, and entitled to vote, at a General Meeting may demand a ballot in which case a ballot shall be taken. Each member present and entitled to vote shall have only one vote except the Chairman of the meeting when entitled to give a casting vote. Any member who is in arrears in respect of any payment due and payable to the Society, shall not be entitled to attend any meeting nor may he vote until his liability be discharged. The legal personal representative of a deceased member shall not be entitled to attend any General Meeting nor may he vote thereat.

38. In the case of an equality of votes at any General Meeting, upon a show of hands or on a ballot, the presiding Chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. In case of any dispute as to the admission or rejection of any vote, the Chairman shall determine the same and such determination shall be final and conclusive.

39. Save as provided for in Section 41 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 voting by proxy shall not be admissible.

40. Any business other than that upon which a ballot has been demanded may be proceeded with pending the taking of the ballot.

X. THE COUNCIL

41. The Council referred to in these rules, particularly Rule 47, shall be elected by and hold its appointment from the Annual General Meeting or from a Special General Meeting held in accordance with the rules which comprise Chapter IX thereof. The number of Council members shall be determined from time to time by the Annual General Meeting or by a special General Meeting. The number of Council Members to retire shall be determined by an Annual General Meeting or by a Special General Meeting.

In addition to the number of Council Members determined in accordance with the second sentence of the previous paragraph the Council shall invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to nominate a representative to be a member of council. This representative shall be exempt from the requirements o rule 46.

Following the registration of these rules, the Special Members shall be deemed to be the Council of the Society until the election of a new Council at the first Annual General Meeting of the Society.

42. The members of the Council to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election or appointment but as between persons who became or were last , re-elected members of the Council on the same day, those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) to be determined by lot.

43. No member of the Society shall be eligible for election to the Council who would be obliged if he were a member of the Council to vacate his office under Rule 53.

Notice of the intention to nominate any person for election to the Council other than a retiring member shall be given to the Secretary not less than five days before the date fixed for the meeting at which such election shall take place.

44. The members of the Council or any of them may receive such out-of pocket expenses reasonably and properly. Incurred by such member on the business or the Co-operative as e. may be agreed upon at any Council Meeting.

45. Where a casual vacancy occurs, either through death, resignation or otherwise, the Council of the Society may co-opt another member of the Society to fill that vacancy. The person so co-opted shall remain in office until the next annual general meeting of the Society. The co-opted member shall retire at that meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election to fill the unexpired portion of the term of office of the person causing the vacancy.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL.

46. ln order to be eligible for election or re-election to the Council, a person must satisfy all of the following criteria: He/she must be,

• a member of the Society, or in the case of a corporate member be the duly appointed representative of that corporate member

•be the owner or nominee of the owner of one or more pedigree SHORTHORN cattle

47. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL
The business and affairs of the Society shall be directed and controlled by the Council who may exercise all such powers of the Society as are not by the Acts or by the Rules required to be exercised by the Society in General Meeting. In particular the Council may draw up detailed rules for the operation of the Herd Book for the SHORTHORN breed which shall at all times conform to Statutory Instrument No. 112 of 1996 or any legislation amending or extending same.

48. Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 47, any disposal either by way of sale, lease or any similar procedure of all or a substantial part of the Society’s business or assets shall be referred to a General Meeting of the members for prior approval.

49. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
The President of the Council shall be elected by and from the members of the Council and shall hold office only so long as he remains a member of the Council. Each member of the Council shall be eligible for election. In order to be elected President a member shall have received a majority of the votes of the members of the Council present and voting at the Council Meeting called for the purpose of electing the President. In the event of an equality of votes in the election of President after the normal voting, the decision shall be made by lot between the last two candidates remaining in the election at that time. In the event of an equality of Votes (where one or more votes are received) amongst those with the lowest number of votes, the decision as to which Council members shall be eliminated from subsequent voting shall be made by lot amongst those with an equality of votes. Subject to him remaining eligible the term of office of the President shall be one year from his election No President may serve more than two terms of office without standing down for at least one term.

The Council may also appoint up to two Vice-Presidents from amongst its own membership. The Vice-Presidents shall hold office and shall be elected in accordance with the same provisions as those applying to the President and one of them as nominated from time to time by the Council shall take the place of the President in the latter’s absence. In the event that both the President and Vice-Presidents are absent the Council shall appoint from amongst its own members a Chairman of the meeting.

The appointment of the President and Vice-Presidents shall take place at the first Council meeting to be held after the Annual General Meeting each year.

The President shall be entitled to vote at all meetings of the Council and shall also have a casting vote whenever there is an equality of votes other than on the occasion of the election of a President or Vice-President where the provisions of the first paragraph shall apply. The President and Vice Presidents shall hold office for a one-year term and shall be eligible for re­election.

50. The President or Vice-President may be removed from office by the votes of at least two thirds of the members of the Council at a meeting of the Council called specially for that purpose and for which at least three clear day’s notice in writing shall be given.

51. SUB-COMMITTEES
The Council may appoint a Sub-Committee or Sub-Committees composed of such persons as it determines who may not necessarily be members of the Council, which shall have such function and powers and tenure as arc given to them by the Council and shall conform in all respects to such instruction as may be given to them from time to time by the Council. The Council shall appoint one of its members as Chairman of any sub-committees which are established under this rule.

52. MEETINGS
The Council shall meet at least four times per year and may adjourn or otherwise regulate its meetings and proceedings, as it thinks fit. The quorum for the transaction of business shall he such number as the Council shall decide from time to time, but shall not be less than one-third of the membership of the Council.

Special meetings of the Council may be convened at any time by the Secretary at the request of the President or by the Secretary at the request of one third of the Council members for the time being, At least forty eight hours notice of such meetings shall be given to each Council Member. A Special Council Meeting shall transact no business other than that appearing in the Notice convening the meeting. An Ordinary Council Meeting may, at the conclusion of its ordinary business, be made Special for any purpose of which notice has been duly given.

All Council Meetings shall be convened and held in accordance with the Standing Orders, if any.

53. DISQUALIFICATION OF A COUNCIL MEMBER
No member shall be entitled to continue as a member of the Council

a) If he/she ceases to hold a Share in the Society or fails to pay his annual subscription on time.
or
b) If he/she is convicted of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty or of an indictable offence not summarily triable other than an offence under the Road Traffic Acts
or
c) If he/she absents himself/herself from any three consecutive meetings of the Council, in any one calendar year without sending an apology which is acceptable to the Council.
or
d) If he/she becomes bankrupt or insolvent or compounds with his/her creditors.
or
e) If he/she becomes a member of the Committee or a Council of any Society, Body Corporate or business organisation which is in competition with the Society, subject to Rule 28, or personally engages in such activities.
or
f) If he/she becomes incapable through disorder or disability of mind.
or
g) If he/she holds any office or place of profit under the Society. Council members in receipt of expenses incurred in the course of business on behalf of the Society shall not be disqualified under this rule.

In the event that a Council member is in dispute with the Society and such dispute has been referred to Arbitration under Rule 77 or to a Court of Law, that persons membership of Council shall remain suspended until the matter is determined.

XI. CHEIF EXECUTIVE, SECRETARY, SECURITY BY OFFICERS

54. The, Council may appoint, remove and fix the remuneration of a Chief Executive who shall be responsible to the Council for the direction of the business and affairs of the Society. Provided, however, that the Chief Executive may only be dismissed by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a special Council meeting of which two days notice in writing shall have been given to each member, Such special meeting shall be convened by the Secretary at the request of not less than one-third of the members of the Council and in the event of the Secretary failing for seven days’ so to convene the Special Meeting, it may be convened by any member of the Council.

The Council may give authority to a Chief Executive under such conditions as it may determine to appoint and remove subordinate employees of the Society and fix their remuneration.

55. The Council may appoint and remove a Secretary, or may make such other provision as it deems expedient for the discharge of secretarial work, and arrange the terms of remuneration (if any) therefor. The Secretary shall have such functions and powers and remuneration as the Council shall from time to time decide. The procedure in the case of the dismissal of the Secretary shall be identical with that laid down by Rule 54 for the dismissal of the Chief Executive. The offices of Chief Executive and Secretary may be held by the same person.

The Council may also appoint and remove a Treasurer and the same provisions as apply to the Secretary shall also apply to the Treasurer.

56. All officers of the Society having charge of money or property belonging to the Society shall provide such security as the Council deems adequate and in such form as it may approve.

57. The Council shall have power to open and to operate as it may determine an account or accounts with any banking company of which it approves.

XII. AFFILIATION AND LEVIES

58. The Society may contribute annually to the ICOS an affiliation fee in accordance with the roles of the ICOS and on payment of such affiliation fee daring the current year shall be entitled to all rights of membership in the ICOS and to such special privileges as may be given by the ICOS.

59. The Council may, at all times deduct and pay whatever monies or levies the Society is obliged

to pay by reason of its membership of any organisation whose rules or articles of Association oblige the Society to pay such monies or levies and the Council may make such arrangements as appear to it to be desirable for the collection of these amounts.

60. CLUBS/BRANCHES, BYE-LAWS/REGULATIONS ETC.
The Council may decide that in the interests of promoting the SHORTHORN Breed and/or the Society a branch or club may be formed in any region to arrange and co-ordinate the activities of the Society in that region so as to more effectively facilitate the attainment of the Society’s objects as set out in Rule 4, All such branches or clubs shall be fully accountable for all their activities to the Council of the Society. Each branch or club formed under this rule will be subject to all of the general rules of the Society.

The Council shall have the power to adopt bye-laws or regulations, not being inconsistent with the provisions of these rules, as may be necessary for:

i) the conduct of meetings of the clubs/branches.

ii) establishing the size of the Committee of each club/branch and introducing clear and unambiguous electoral procedures for election of each club/branch Committee, which will be common to all clubs/branches.

iii) the monitoring of the activities of the clubs/branches.

iv) limiting the amount of any charges which the branch/club may apply to its members, specifying the uses to which such revenue can be put and regulating the manner in which the monies of the branch/club must be accounted for to the Society.

v) The nomination of a Council member as an ex officio member of each Club committee.

vi) any other matter deemed appropriate.

Copies of any bye-laws or regulations adopted by the Council under this rule shall be made available to the Secretaries of the clubs/branches and to individual members on request. Alterations, additions or deletions of any such bye-laws or regulations may be made by a resolution of the Council adopted by a simple majority provided notice of the intention to propose such a resolution is contained in the notice convening the meeting.

The club/branch will also require the special permission of the Council to organise shows, sales or any special events and the Council shall have the right to attach any conditions, which it deems appropriate, to such permission. The club/branch will be required to hold a General Meeting of its members within the period of two months immediately prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Society.

In the event of any disputes in the interpretation of the bye-laws governing the club/branch as approved by the Council or of the rules of the Society the Council’s decision shall be final.

XIII. STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS

61. The Society shall have its name engraved in legible characters upon a seal, which shall be left in the custody of the Secretary or such other person as the Council may from time to time appoint, and shall be used only under the authority of a resolution of the Council and shall be attested by the signatures of two members of the Council and the counter-signature of the Secretary, or such other person as the Council may from time to time appoint.

62. The registered name of the Society shall be painted or affixed and kept painted or affixed on the outside of every office or place in which the business of the Society is carried on, in a conspicuous position and in letters easily legible and its registered name shall be engraved in legible characters on its seal, and such name shall be legibly stated in all notices, advertisements, correspondence and other official publications of the Society, and in all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques, and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the Society, and in all bills or parcels, invoices, receipts and letters of credit of the Society.

63. The Society may, by Special Resolution passed in manner prescribed by the Acts:

a) Change its name with the approval of the Registrar in writing hut no change shall affect any right or obligation of the Society or any member thereof, by or against the Society notwithstanding its new name;

b) Amalgamate with or transfer its engagements to any other society, or accept any such transfer as provided by the Acts.

c) Convert itself into a company under the Companies Acts, or amalgamate with or transfer its engagements to any such company as provided in the Acts.

d) Dissolve itself as provided for in Rule 64.

64. The Society may be dissolved:

By an order to wind up the Society or a resolution for the winding up thereof made as is directed with regard to companies by the Companies Act 1963, the provisions whereof shall apply to such order or resolution except that the term “Registrar” shall, for the purpose of such winding up, have the meaning given to it by the Acts.

65. The Council shall cause proper books of accounts to be kept as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Society’s affairs and to explain its transactions and shall relate to:

a) All sums of money received and expended by the Society and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place and

b) All sales and purchases of/by the Society and

c) The assets and liabilities of the Society.

The accounts and Annual Return of the Society and all necessary vouchers shall be submitted once in every year for audit to one of the Public Auditors authorised by Section 187 of the Companies Act 1990, who shall be appointed in accordance with provisions of Rule 31(e) and shall not hold any other office in connection with the Society.

66. 1. Subject as hereinafter contained, at any Annual General Meeting a retiring Auditor, however appointed, shall he re-appointed without any resolution being passed unless:

a) He is not qualified for appointment; or

b) A resolution has been passed at the meeting appointing somebody instead of him or providing expressly that he shall not be re-appointed; or

c) He has given the Society notice in writing of his unwillingness to be re­appointed.

2. Where notice is given on an intended resolution to appoint some other person in place of a retiring Auditor, and by reason of the death incapacity or disqualification of that person, the resolution cannot be proceeded with, the retiring Auditor shall not be automatically re-appointed by virtue of sub section (1) hereof.

3. At least ten clear days notice in writing to the Society shall be required for a
resolution at the Society’s Annual General Meeting appointing as Auditor a person other than a retiring Auditor or providing expressly that the retiring Auditor shall not be re-appointed.

4. On receipt of notice of such an intended resolution as aforesaid, the Society shall forthwith send a copy thereof to the retiring Auditor.

5. Where notice is given proposing a Resolution that the retiring Auditor shall not be re­appointed the retiring Auditor may make representations in writing to the Society and may request that he be heard orally at the meeting or may request that the representations shall be read at the meeting of the Society provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter.

67. The Auditor shall audit the accounts and annual returns of the Society and sign the accounts to
be placed before the General Meeting.

68. The auditor shall have access to all books, deeds, documents, securities, vouchers and
accounts of the Society, and shall examine the statement of the accounts and annual returns and verify the same with the hooks, deeds, documents, accounts and vouchers relating thereto, and shall either sign the same as found by him to be correct, duly vouched, and in accordance with law or specially report to the Society in what respect he finds them incorrect, unvouched or not in accordance with law.

69. 1. The Society shall once in every year not later than the 31st day of March, or such other
date that maybe fixed from time to time by law, send to the Registrar an annual return of the receipts and expenditure, funds and effects of the Society as audited.

2. The annual return:

a) shall be signed by the auditor; and

b) shall show separately the expenditure in respect of the several objects of the Society; and

c) shall be made out from the date of its registration or last annual return to that of its last published balance sheet, unless the last-named date is more than four months before or more than one month after the 31 December, in which case it shall be made up to the 31st December inclusive; and

d) shall state that the audit has been conducted by a public auditor as provided by the Acts and the name of such auditor.

The Society shall send to the Registrar together with the Annual return a copy of the balance sheet and report of the Auditor, or if more than one such balance sheet or report has been made during the period included in the return, a copy of each of such balance sheets and reports.

The Secretary shall, once at least in every three years, make out and send to the Registrar, together with the annual return for the year, a special return signed by the auditor showing the holding of each person in the Society (whether in shares or loans) at the date to which the said annual return is made out, provided that where such persons are in the list of members kept by the Society distinguished by numbers, it shall be sufficient if they are distinguished in the special return by such numbers, and in that case it shall not be necessary to specify their name.

70. The Society shall supply gratuitously to every member or person interested in the funds of the Society on his application a copy of the last annual return of the Society.

71. The Society shall at all times keep a copy of the last Statement of accounts for the time being together with the Report of the Auditor displayed in a conspicuous place at the registered office of the Society.

72. Any member or person having an interest in the funds of the Society shall be allowed to inspect his own account and the books containing the names of the members at the registered office of the Society or at any place where the same are kept, subject to such regulations as to the time and manner of such inspection as may be made from time to time by the General Meetings of the Society.

73. Any ten members of the Society each of whom has been a member of the Society for not less than twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application may apply to the Registrar in the form prescribed by the Regulations to appoint an Accountant or actuary to inspect the books of the Society, and to report thereon, pursuant to Section 18 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893.

74. Members may make application to the Registrar in accordance with the Acts:

a) to appoint one or more inspectors to examine into the affairs of the Society and to report thereon; or

b) to call a Special General Meeting of the Society.

75. Every person shall be entitled to a copy of the Society’s rules on payment of a fee of 5 cents.

76. Rules may, subject to the written consent of the ICOS as laid down in the prefatory notice to these rules, he made, altered, rescinded or amended by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose. Every alteration or amendment shall be duly registered and on registration issued with the rules of the Society. No new rule or amendment is valid until registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

77. Every dispute between the Society and a member of the Society or any person aggrieved who has not for more than six months ceased to be a member of the Society, or any person claiming through such member or person aggrieved or claiming under the rules of the Society shall unless amicably adjusted, be submitted for arbitration to the Board of ICOS who may either arbitrate the case themselves or appoint some person or persons to arbitrate it on their behalf.

The costs of the arbitration shall be borne as the Board of ICOS directs, and such sum as the said Board of lCOS decides shall be deposited prior to the hearing of the case.

The award so made on every such arbitration shall be final and binding on all parties without appeal, and shall not be removable into any court of law or restrainable by injunction, and application for the enforcement thereof may be made to the Circuit Court. No dispute shall be referred to the Registrar.

78. No political or sectarian discussion shall be raised nor shall any resolution which deals with irrelevant subjects be proposed either at a Council Meeting, General Meeting or any other meeting of the Society.

XIV. INCOME AND PROPERTY

79. The income and property of the Society, whensoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as set forth in these rules and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the society.

Provided nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith, of reasonable and proper remuneration to any offer or servant of the Society, or to any member of the Society in return for any services annually rendered to the Society, nor prevent the payment of interest at a rate not exceeding 5 percent, per annum on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demied or let by any member of the Society, nor prevent the Society from purchasing cattle at reasonable and proper prices from any member for use at any artificial insemination station or otherwise for the benefit of members nor the gratuitous distribution among or sale at a discount to members of any publications, weather published by the Society or otherwise, relating to any of its objects set forth, nor prevent any member who may be a successful exhibitor at any such show as is mentioned in Rule 4(f) from receiving as such exhibitor any prize, medal or other recognition which may, under the regulations affecting the said show, be awarded to such member, nor preventing the Society repaying to any member all or any of the out-of-pocket expenses reasonable and properly incurred by such member in or about the exhibition of cattle at any shoe approved for this purpose by the Society; but so that no member of the Council of the Society shall be appointed to any salaried office of the Society or any office of the Society paid by fees and that no remuneration or other benefits in money or money’s worth shall be given by the Society to any member of such Council except repayment of out-of-pocket expenses and interest at the rate aforesaid on money let by him to the Society for the use at any artificial insemination station or otherwise or any prize, medal or other recognition to which he may become entitled as an exhibitor at any such show as aforesaid; provide that the provision last aforesaid shall not apply to any payment to any company of which a member of the council may be a member, and in which such member shall not hold more than one hundred part of the capital, and such member shall not be bound to account for any share of profits he may receive in respect of any such payment.

XV. NOTICES OF MEETINGS ETC.

80. Every member shall be taken to have due notice of every meeting, resolution or other matter of which notice is required by Rules of the Society to be given or served, on notice thereof being posted or sent to the registered address of such member or published in newspapers as the case may be.

81. All notice shall, with respect to any shares to which persons are jointly entitled, be given to the joint owner who is named first in the register, the notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all holders of such shares.

The Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall include particulars of the pedigrees of cattle eligible to be entered in each of the herdbooks as set out in the Appendices of these Bye Laws, and such other information as the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may from time to time decide.

(b) An entry tendered for registration in the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. by a person who is not a member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall not be accepted.

(c) A member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be entitled to tender for registration in the Irish Shorthorn Society: Ltd. Herd Books, under, and subject to, the conditions contained in these Byelaws, entries of animals belonging to such member either alone or jointly with any other person.

(d) The entry of every animal must be tendered for registration by the breeder of such animal except,

(i) In the case of animals submitted for registration in Class A of the Supplementary Section as described in Appendices 3 and 4.

(ii) In respect of a calf born as a result of embryo transfer.

(iii) In the case of an animal imported to the Republic of Ireland by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. or imported to the Republic of Ireland by a member.

(iv) In the case of an animal whose parentage pedigree can be established by DNA.

(e) In the preceding paragraph the breeder of an animal means a member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. who at the time such animal is born is the bona fide owner of the dam, either alone or jointly with any partner or partners or other person or persons whose names and addresses and descriptions shall have previously been given to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., in writing, by such member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(f) Every member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. who shall be the joint owner with a non-member of any animal registered in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall, within one month after any change of the address of such person for the time being registered with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., give notice in writing of such change of address to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(g) The Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be entitled either before or after the entry of any animal in the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. Herd Books to make such enquiries or investigations with respect to the animal, (including the inspection by any of its officers or agents of the animal or its parents or progeny or any records maintained by members), as the Council of the fish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall consider reasonable in the interests of the members of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., with the object of ensuring the accuracy of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. and any entries therein.

(h) In addition to the other requirements set out in these Byelaws, in order to register in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.:

In the case of:

(i) A live female imported from outside the Republic of Ireland, the member who owns that animal must submit an export registration certificate and a five-generation pedigree certificate;

And

In the case of:

(ii) A live bull imported from outside the Republic of Ireland, the member who owns that animal must submit an export registration certificate and a DNA profile from the country of origin, (or from Ireland if no DNA typing has been carried out in the country of origin), and a five-generation pedigree certificate.

In the case of:

(iii) Bull semen imported from outside the Republic of Ireland, the member who owns the semen must submit a five-generation pedigree certificate and a blood/DNA type certificate supplied by the importing company at the time of dual registration.

In the case of:

(iv) Embryos imported from outside the Republic of Ireland, the member who owns those embryos must submit a five-generation pedigree certificate for the dam, a certificate of embryo identification and a blood/DNA type certificate for the sire and dam.

(i) The entry of any animal in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be at the absolute discretion of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

2. (a) The fact of an animal being twin, or otherwise one of a multiple birth, shall be notified to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., stating the sex of the other twin, or other calves, and which shall be noted in the respective Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. against the registration entry of such animal.

(b) Any fine or fines which has or shall become payable by a member under these Byelaws in respect of any animal shall be additional to the fees payable and unless and, except in so far as in any special case the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall otherwise expressly resolve and determine, no entry shall be made in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. in respect of any animal unless and until any such fine or fines as aforesaid which may have been payable in respect of such animal shall have been duly paid and discharged.

3. (a) Every member desiring to tender an animal for registration in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall first submit for registration a prefix to be approved by the Council and which shall thereafter be applicable to animals bred and tendered for registration by that member, either alone or jointly with any partner or partners or other person or persons, particulars in writing of whose names, addresses and descriptions shall have previously been given by such member to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. and to no other animals. A prefix shall consist of one word only which has been approved by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. and the member shall pay the prescribed fee before registration is effected in the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd’s records. Except by special permission of the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. a prefix that has been used by a member may not be used by another member. When a herd is sold or discontinued its prefix shall lapse unless the member subsequently founds another herd or desires again to use its original prefix. When a herd is taken over by a representative of the family of the previous owner of such herd, the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., in its absolute discretion, may grant a request for the herd prefix to be continued. When a herd belonging to any persons jointly either as partnership property or otherwise, is taken over either by a survivor of them or otherwise, the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may if in its absolute discretion it shall so determine, grant a request for the herd prefix to be continued and be applicable to animals bred and tendered for registration by such survivors or survivor or successors or successor in business for so long as the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may think fit provide always that such persons or person shall be, or include, at least one member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. and as regards every other of them shall be a person or persons particulars in writing of whose names, addresses and description shall have been duly given to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(b) In addition to the prefix each animal must have a name, which shall not be altered after being registered in the respective Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. except under such special circumstances as the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may direct. All names shall be subject to the approval of the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(c) Animals in the Traditional Class of the Shorthorn herdbook shall have breed fractions (percentages) printed on their pedigree certificate. Animals in the Beef Class of the Shorthorn herdbook shall have breed fractions (percentages) printed on certificates. Breed fractions (percentages) will be printed on certificates for animals registered in the Milking Shorthorn herdbook.

4. (a) In the case of the sale or transfer of any animal, the rules set out in Part 1 of Appendix 2 shall apply.

(b) Where the conduct of a member is being considered under the Articles of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. reserves the right to “hold” any transfer and/or reserves the right to “hold” any entries seeking registration in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. pending the outcome of the investigation.

(c) Where any member of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. who has been expelled from the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., or suspended from membership, under the Articles of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. is, at the time of such expulsion or suspension, an owner of registered cattle, the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may, at it’s discretion, allow such member to transfer the cattle then registered in his name in the respective Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., after the date of expulsion, or suspension, as the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may decide.

5. (a) The Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may refuse to accept entries for registration in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. from any member who fails to observe or perform any of the provisions of Part 1 of Appendix 2. The Council shall not sanction definite acceptance by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. of notification of birth unless the dam of the calf concerned has been properly transferred to the breeder of that calf as required in Appendix 2.

(b) Where the sire and dam of a calf were not in the same ownership at the time of service or insemination, a properly authorised service or insemination certification verifying this service or insemination must, unless otherwise decided by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., be submitted when the calf is tendered for registration. DNA must be carried out in a case where those documents cannot be provided.

(c) The Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. may at any time cancel or alter or amend, as may be necessary, the entry of an animal in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. which shall be found to contain any false or inaccurate particulars or statement or to have been made on the faith of any false or inaccurate particulars or statement given or made to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. the Certificate of Registration issued by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. in respect of such animal shall be delivered up the Irish Shorthorn society Ltd. and be cancelled, altered, amended or replaced.

6. In addition to the other Bye-Laws, an animal shall be eligible to be registered in:

(i) The Shorthorn Herdbook of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., if it is eligible under the rules set out in Appendix 3 of these Bye-Laws and

(ii) The Milking Shorthorn Herdbook of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd if it is eligible under the rules set out in Appendix 4 of these Bye-Laws.

7. The fines, fees and other payments to be made to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., shall be such as may be prescribed from time to time by the Council of the Society and published in the Shorthorn Journal.

8. Should any question arise concerning the meaning, interpretation or application of any of these Byelaws, the decision of the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be final and binding.

9. The definition of the breed characteristics of the Shorthorn are:

(a) Colour of coat- Coat must be White, Roan, Red, Red and Write,

(b) Animal should be of clear-pigmented skin and of clear muzzle; and

(c) Animal must be docile

10. The breeding objectives of the Shorthorn are:

(a) To breed Shorthorn cattle with good maternal and beef traits that are true to type and that can compete with other breeds on commercial farms.

(b) To promote the attributes and versatility of the 2 types of Shorthorn- the Traditional type and the Beef type

(c) To source and promote the use of the best Shorthorn genetics to improve the overall standard of the breed.

(d) To encourage breeders to use Animal Events, thereby availing of the performance data available from ICBF for Shorthorns cattle. This will also facilitate the identification of stock bulls and breeding females for use in future breeding programmes for the breed.

11. The definition of the breed characteristics of the Milking Shorthorn are:

(a) Colour of coat- Coat must be White, Roan, Red, Red and White;

(b) Animal should be of clear-pigmented skin and of clear muzzle;

(c) Animal shall be milking type- good udder, good fertility, good feet and legs and good temperament; and

(d) Animal must be docile.

12. The definition of the breeding objectives of the Milking Shorthorn are:

(a) To breed a cow that can compete in a commercial dairy environment;

(b) To promote the attributes and versatility of the Milking Shorthorn Breed:

(c) To source and promote the use of the best Milking Shorthorn genetics to improve the overall standard of the breed; and

(d) To encourage breeders to use Animal Events, thereby availing of the performance data available from ICBF for Milking Shorthorns. This will also facilitate the identification of stock bulls and breeding females for use in future breeding programmes for the breed.

13. The Society shall make use of Livestock performance data by joining ICBF. Members of the Society will be encouraged to sign up for Animal Events. Updated genetic evaluation results will be printed on all certificates issued by the Society. This is an important aid to the Breed in profiling existing animals and in carrying out our breeding objectives.

14. The Society shall invoke the grievance procedure outlined in Appendix 5 to solve any disputes between members of the Society and/or in the Society itself.

APPENDIX 1Registration Details and Requirements for entry in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.
The rules set out in Appendix 1 shall apply to the birth of every calf whose entry is desired to be registered in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

1. (a) The birth of every female calf whose entry is desired to be registered in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be notified to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. by the breeder or his representative within 30 days from the date of birth of the calf. The birth of every bull calf whose entry is desired to be registered in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall be notified to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. by the breeder or his representative within 365 days from the date of birth of the calf. The procedure(s) for registering calves are:

(i) Notification of the birth on the ICBF Animal Event System (AE) form duly completed giving details of date of birth, sex, colour, ear tag number, dam, sire and name of calf to be forwarded to ICBF for entry in the appropriate Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(ii) Any other procedure approved or directed by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. from time to time.

2. The official Department of Agriculture and Food ear tag shall be the accepted means of identification of every calf for registration in the Societies Herd Books. The ear tag number shall also act as the official Herd Book number.

3. [A] A calf born by embryo transfer will carry the suffix ET and may be registered in the normal way and with the prefix of the herd in which it is born subject to the following conditions:-

(i) The collection and transfer of embryos shall be carried out by an approved operator.

(ii) (a) Upon each collection of embryos an embryo collection certificate (form ET 1) must be fully completed in triplicate by the Unit, one copy to be retained by the Unit, one to be retained by the owner of the donor female and one to be submitted to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(b) If the donor female was artificially inseminated, or served naturally by a bull/bulls not owned by the owner of the donor female, the relevant insemination or service certificate(s) must accompany the embryo collection certificate.

(c) If the service bull(s) is/are not already blood typed or DNA typed, application for DNA typing to be carried out must be made to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. at the time of embryo collection.

(iii) If any embryo is sold or transferred to other ownership by the owner of the donor female, either unfrozen, frozen or in a recipient female even if the recipient female remains the property of the breeder, a Form ET2 must be completed, giving the new owner’s details, and submitted to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

(iv) If at one and the same time more than one embryo is transferred to a recipient those embryos must be from one and the same collection.

(v) A breeder wishing to breed a donor cow to more than one bull at any heat period must obtain prior approval from the Society who will ascertain that the parentage of the resulting calves can be established.

(vi) (a) The member notifying the birth of a calf resulting from any embryo transfer must insert the letters ‘ET’ as a suffix to the calf’s name on the birth notification form.

(b) The unique ET I form number (not the collection reference number) must be quoted in the appropriate place on the birth form.

(c) A calf born as a result of embryo transfer where semen from two or more bulls was used for the insemination (as in iv. above) must be parentage checked by DNA typing as appropriate. On receipt of the birth form the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. will dispatch the hair sample pack(s) to the member.

(d) In the case of embryos imported into Ireland the breeder must submit a copy of the embryo collection certificate from country of origin, notification of the number of embryos from that collection that were imported, five -generation pedigrees from both sire and dam and blood type certificates or DNA profiles for both sire and darn. Birth forms must be submitted as described in vi (a) and vi (b) except that the collection reference number from the county of origin must be quoted on the birth form.

[B] A pedigree female calf whose birth has not been notified to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. within 30 days from the date thereof as required by 1(a) may, if otherwise eligible, still be registered in the relevant Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. within 60 days from the date of such birth upon payment of the late notification fee as from time to time laid down by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. Female calves over 60 days of age can only be registered after parentage checking by DNA typing and payment of double the female registration fee.

[C] A pedigree male calf whose birth has not been notified to the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., within 365 days from the date thereof as required by 1 (a) may, if otherwise eligible, still be registered in the relevant Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. after parentage checking by DNA typing and payment of double the male registration fee.

4. (i) The fee(s) for registration of an animal in any of the Herd Books shall be that as laid down by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. from time to time. Refunds will not be made in the event of a registration being cancelled. All registrations must be paid for in advance of certificate being issued to breeder.

(ii) Payment for registration of an animal in any of the Herd Books is due immediately upon acceptance of the application for entry in the relevant Herd Book.

5. The manner in which members pay for registration fees will be as follows:

(i) By having a direct debit signed in favour of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

Or

(ii) By maintaining a pre-payment account with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. each registration to be deducted from prepayment balance.

Or

(iii) Any other means approved by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

6. Registration in any of the Herd Books will not be accepted unless payment(s) conform to one of the methods described in paragraph 5 above.

7. The fact that an animal is polled must be notified to the Society by inserting the letter (P) as part of the registration name of the animal.

8. From 1/1/2005 all Stock Bulls must be DNA tested/blood typed and that report lodged with the Society prior to registration of its progeny. The cost of this test to be borne by the breeder/owner. In the event of a dispute over parentage the Society reserves the right to have the animal DNA tested/blood typed at the owner’s expense.

9. All Al Bulls for use within the breed must be DNA tested/blood type

10. Gestation length is valid between 270 and 305 days thereafter the Breeder must give an explanation as to why the gestation is over 305 days and may be requested by the Society to carry out DNA on the animal to be registered.

11. Every 70th Registration received by the Society will also be DNA tested/blood typed. The cost of this test will be borne by the Society. The Society will also carry out further DNA checks at its discretion.

12. If a pedigree animal is found to carry a genetic defect, the Society will note this on the Pedigree Certificate of such an animal.

13. All grade up females registered in the Irish Shorthorn Society Herd Books are eligible for Show and Sale and in all sale catalogues the wording (Grade ……) must appear immediately after the female name.

(a) The Council or the Members at the Annual General Meeting shall decide whether or not a grade-up register attach to any of the herdbooks.

14. No Honorary or Associated Member shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the Irish Shorthorn Society Limited, or be elected to the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Limited.

15. The Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society shall consist of twelve members and where vacancies arise on the Council, the Council shall have power to co-opt members onto the Council until the next AGM. The Council have power to appoint sub-committees where necessary.

16. A breed improvement programme for each herdbook shall be introduced by the Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Limited.

17. On the entry of an animal in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., the Trish Shorthorn Society Ltd. shall issue to the member requesting such entry a certificate of registration incorporating a pedigree extended to a maximum of five generations in respect of such animal. The Certificate will show the herd book to which the animal belongs and its herdbook status.

Note: A subsequent registration certificate with updated pedigree information may be issued on payment of a re-issue and return of the original registration certificate.

18. The Society will accept the registration of animals not bred by the member provided the sire and dam are registered animals. Such animals will be registered without a prefix, and will not be eligible to be shown as exhibitor bred. The Society reserves the right if it so wishes to request a DNA typing of any such animals before registrations. Appropriate fee will apply to such registrations.

These Rules and Regulations are intended as a guide to owners and breeders.

The Society accepts no liability for any misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Members are advised to contact the Society on any points for clarification.

APPENDIX 2

Change in Ownership
The rules set out in this Part 1 Appendix 2 shall apply to the sale/transfer of any animal whose entry has been registered in any of the Herd Books of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

1. The Council of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. will accept such evidence of change of ownership as may be considered satisfactory or required in order that the prefix or name of the bona fide owner may be noted in the records of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

APPENDIX 3

Eligibility for Entry in the Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.
The rules set out in this Appendix shall apply for registration of Shorthorn animals (Traditional type and Beef type) in the Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

1. In order to be eligible for entry in the main section of the Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., an animal must:

(a) be descended from parents and grandparents correctly registered in the Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. or another approved Herd Book of the Shorthorn breed,

(b) be identified at birth in accordance with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd’s rules, (c) have a pedigree established in accordance with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd’s rules 2. The main section of the Shorthorn herdbook shall be divided into 2 classes as follows:

(a) a Traditional Class for Shorthorn animals that have at least 3 generations of Shorthorn only ancestry in their back-pedigree and who come from a herdbook listed in Appendix 6 to these rules. The Council reserves the right to amend this list from time to time.

(b) a Beef Class for Shorthorn animals that are beef type and who may have Maine Anjou ancestors in their back-pedigree.

Animals shall be entered into the class whose criteria they meet.

3. A female that does not meet the criteria laid down in paragraph 1 may be entered in the supplementary section of this Herd Book. In such cases the female shall

(a) be identified in accordance with the Herd Book rules,

(b) be judged to conform to the breed standard,

(c) have a minimum performance criteria as laid down by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd and

(d) be of known Shorthorn ancestry (either sire or dam).

4. The Supplementary Section of the Herd Book shall be divided as follows:

(a) Section A: To qualify for entry to this Section, females must comply with Paragraph 3. The Sire of the A female must be registered in the main section of this Herd Book or in another Herd Book of the Shorthorn breed. Females in this Section shall have the Herd Book Status of `ASR’

(b) SectionB: A female animal whose mother (ASR’) is registered in Section A of the Supplementary Section of the Herd Book, and whose father is registered in the main section of this Herd Book or in another Herd Book of the Shorthorn breed, shall be eligible for entry in this Section. Females in this Section shall have the Herd Book Status `BSR’.

A female animal whose mother (‘BSR’, Section B) and maternal grandmother (‘ASR’ Section A) are entered in a supplementary section of this Herd Book and whose father and two grandfathers are entered in the Beef Class of the main section of this Herd Book or are beef type from the main section of another Shorthorn herdbook shall only be eligible for entry into the Beef Class of the main section of this Herd Book.

The supplementary section is suspended for entry into the Traditional Class. The Council reserves the right to open this at any particular time.

For animals that are in the process of grading-up via the Supplementary section in the old herdbook (2004 rules) they shall be allowed continue the grade-up process in accordance with the 2004 rules. On successful grade-up females shall enter the class of the herdbook in accordance with these rules.

Appendix 4

Eligibility for Entry in the Milking Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.
The rules set out in this Appendix shall apply for registration of blended Milking Shorthorn animals in the Milking Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. By way of derogation to Article 1(a) of Commission Decision 84/419/EC, Milking Shorthorn animals (which are descendants of a Shorthorn crossed on any of the following breeds -Holstein, Ayrshire, Montbelliarde, MR1, Illawarra, German Angler, Norwegian Red, Rothunt, Danish Red and Swedish Red) and Milking Shorthorns crossed on a Milking Shorthorn or a Shorthorn (Traditional or Beef) may be entered directly into the main section of this herdbook during a period of establishment which will last no longer than 31st December 2009. While the derogation is in operation this fact will be clearly stated on all certificates issued by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. From the 1° January 2010 the following rules will apply to the entry of animals in this herdbook:

1. In order to be eligible for entry in the main section of the Milking Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., an animal must:

a) be descended from parents and grandparents registered in the Milking Shorthorn Herd Book of the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. or another approved Herd Book of the Milking Shorthorn breed,

b) be identified at birth in accordance with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd’s rules,

c) have a pedigree established in accordance with the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd’s rules

2. The main section of the Milking Shorthorn herdbook shall be divided into 2 classes as follows:

a) Class A for animals that are milking and true to type and colour and

b) Class B for animals that are not milking and/or not true to type and/or colour.

Animals shall be entered into the class whose criteria they meet. The Council reserves the right to re-classify animals from time to time if an animals status changes.

3. A female that does not meet the criteria laid down in paragraph I may be entered in the supplementary section of this Herd Book. In such cases the female shall

a) be identified in accordance with the Herd Book rules

b) be judged to conform to the breed standard,

c) have a minimum performance criteria as laid down by the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd., and

d) be of known Shorthorn ancestry (either sire or dam).

4. The Supplementary Section of the Herd Book shall be divided as follows:

a) Section A: To qualify for entry to this Section, females must comply with Paragraph 2. The Sire of the A female must be registered in Class A of the main section of this Herd Book or in another Herd Book of the Milking Shorthorn breed. Females in this Section shall have the Herd Book Status of ‘ASR’.

b) Section B: A female animal whose mother (‘ASR’) is registered in Section A of the Supplementary Section of this Herd Book, and whose father is registered in Class A of the main section of this Herd Book or in another Herd Book of the Milking Shorthorn breed, shall be eligible for entry in this Section. Females in this Section shall have the Herd Book Status `BSR’.

A female animal whose mother (BSR’, Section B) and maternal grandmother (‘ASR’ Section A) are entered in a supplementary section of this Herd Book and whose father and two grandfathers are entered in Class A of the main section of this Herd Book or in another approved Herd Book of the Milking Shorthorn breed shall be eligible for entry in the main section of this Herd Book.

During the period of establishment of this herdbook the Supplementary section to this book shall be suspended. After this time Council reserves the right to open the section.

Since 2014 Milking Shorthorn breeders have been participating in a Classification Scheme. The animals are classified by an IHFA Classifier.
Animals are accessed on a 1- 9 point system and the resulting grade is printed on pedigree certificates.

Overall scores attributed to each animal are as follows:

F

Fair

70 – 74 points

G

Good

75 – 79 points

GP

Good Plus

80 – 84 points

VG

Very Good

85 – 89 points

EX

Excellent

90 – 97 points

APPENDIX 5

Grievance procedure between the Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd. and a Member of the Society.
The objective of this procedure is to provide a member who has a grievance with the society an opportunity to have the grievance examined and resolved at the earliest practical moment and at the most local level possible.

While the matter is being considered under the Appeals Procedure, the operation of the Society cannot be interrupted. The person(s) raising the matter shall continue to comply with the rules of the Society during the course of the examination of the matter in question. By so doing he/she will not create any precedent nor will his/her membership of the Society be prejudiced in any way in relation to the matter being processed.

The procedure to apply shall be as follows:

Stage 1

A member who feels aggrieved in relation to any matter pertaining to Society business should, in the first instance, write to the Chairman of the Council of the Society, making it clear that Stage 1 of the Appeals Procedure is being invoked. The Chairman will reply as soon as is reasonably practicable, but in any case within thirty days from receipt of the letter from the appellant.

Stage 2

If the grievance is not resolved at Stage 1, or if a reply is not forthcoming from the Council Chairman within thirty days, the member(s) may request in writing, that at their next Council meeting, the Council allow the member(s) to attend the meeting during the period that the grievance is being considered. The member(s) will be allowed to make an oral submission on the grievance. The Council will then reconsider the issue and must communicate its decision to the appellant within thirty days.

Stage 3

If the issue remains unresolved after Stage 2, the member(s) may request an independent hearing. The Council shall grant such a hearing. Appeals at Stage 3 will be heard by an individual or group of individuals with appropriate expertise, agreed by both parties to the dispute. From the date of appointment of the person(s) hearing the appeal, the case will be heard and the decision taken will be communicated to both parties within three months. The person(s) hearing the case will decide on the apportionment of costs, as appropriate.

Stage 4

Any dispute that remains unresolved after Stage 3 may be pursued by invoking provisions under the legal personality of the Society.

The Society expects all its members to abide by the rules, regulations and standards established by the Society.

Appendix 6

Herdbooks from which animals may be eligible to enter the Traditional Class of the Shorthorn herdbook.
a) The Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom & Ireland

b) Australian Shorthorn Society (Beef)

Examples of Sample Matingsa)Shorthorn Herdbook
Animals in the Traditional class denoted as “TRAD”. Animals in the Beef class denoted as “BEEF”

* The progeny of crosses outlined in Examples 5 and 6 can only be registered in the Milking Shorthorn herdbook during the period of establishment of the Milking Shorthorn breed, which is up until the 31st December 2009. From the 1st January 2010 only progeny from BLEND animals are eligible to be entered in this herdbook.